"I Wanted to Be Big Enough for Them to See From Heaven": SRK’s Emotional Tribute as Dubai Tower is Named After Him
The 'Badshah' of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, has added another jewel to his crown. In a grand event in Dubai, attended alongside his close friend and filmmaker Farah Khan, the superstar was honored by having a building named after him.
However, amidst the glitz and glamour, it was a moment of raw vulnerability that stole the show. Known for his wit and charm, SRK opened up about the driving force behind his unparalleled success: the early loss of his parents.
"They Become Stars in the Sky"
When asked about a life-changing moment that defined his trajectory, Khan didn't speak of his first hit film or an award. Instead, he took the audience back to his teenage years.
"My life-changing moment, Farah... was the passing away of my parents at a very young age," SRK shared. "I thought they had become stars in the sky. Mujhe laga woh tara ban chuke hain (I felt they had become stars) and they will not be able to see me."
A Son’s Promise to Himself
The 60-year-old actor revealed that his massive ambition wasn't born out of a desire for fame, but a desire to be visible to his parents in the afterlife.
"So, I worked harder to become a bigger person," he explained. "God has been very kind. I just put a bronze statue of myself from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in London. I won a National Award, and now I have a building in Dubai which is my name."
He concluded with a line that left the audience teary-eyed: "The idea was to become so big on Earth that my parents can see me from heaven. For me, that is the life-changing moment."
Touching upon the significance of the new tower, Farah Khan noted, "This is as close to the sky as one can get." To which SRK softly replied, "I hope they can see me from there."
From Delhi Streets to Global Icon
Shah Rukh Khan’s journey is one of resilience. He lost his father, Taj Mohammed Khan, to cancer when he was just 14, a shock that changed the course of his life. Two years after starting his television career with Fauji (1988), he lost his mother.
Fueled by grief and ambition, he moved from New Delhi—where he had initially dreamed of being a sportsman until a shoulder injury intervened—to the chaotic world of Mumbai.
From his film debut in Deewana (1992) to iconic hits like Dil To Pagal Hai, Pardes, and Chalte Chalte, SRK worked relentlessly. Today, with over 90 films to his credit, the boy who worried his parents couldn't see him has ensured the whole world watches him.
Shah Rukh Khan’s confession is a poignant reminder that behind the "King Khan" persona lies a son who simply misses his parents. This building in Dubai is not just a structure; it is a monument to a promise kept.
